Drowning Rapunzel Guest Post

It wasn’t until I started blogging that I realized this form of social media would allow for me to get to know so many authors and their amazing work. As a result, my passion for reading and writing increased. Where else can I possibly interview so many people and know about their books if not here? Which brings me to this next author. My guest for today is Annette Gisby and she is the author of Drowning Rapunzel. Annette has also written an interesting piece about how well you know your characters so read along for some more fun.

Recently released from a mental institution, Beth Gregory accepts a job as a live-in secretary/PA to the reclusive painter Josh Warrington. Beth’s long red hair fascinates him from the first moment he sees her and Josh wants her to be his Rapunzel for a series of fairy tale paintings he’s working on.

Beth has two major fears: that she will be sent back to the mental hospital and the visions which landed her there in the first place will return. They do; this time giving her glimpses of murders before they happen. Beth becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation and then she has the most disturbing vision of all: she will become the next victim…

Book Excerpt:

Dr. Thornton appeared as soon as she was dressed and packed, almost as if he knew. He handed her a bottle of pills and a prescription. “In case you run out,” he said, patting her hand like a parent.

“I feel fine,” said Beth. “I don’t think I’ll be needing them.”

“Well, just in case,” replied the doctor, putting them both into her hand.

“Are you always that stubborn?” asked Josh with a smile.

“No,” said Beth. “I just don’t like taking medicine.” She suppressed a shudder, remembering the last time she’d been on medication at Harmony Hills. She didn’t mind the pain. Pain was real. Pain was something she could cope with, a drug-induced haze was not.

Josh hefted her overnight bag over his shoulder and after taking their leave of the doctor, made their way to his car. Once the bag was in the boot, he came back to check on her and help her into the passenger seat. The seatbelt rubbed uncomfortably against her stomach, but she put it on anyway. Josh started the engine and then turned it off again.

“Oh, I forgot. There was a letter for you this morning.”

“For me?” asked Beth, wondering who would be writing to her. “Is it from Alice?”

“Maybe,” said Josh. “It’s in the glove box.” He reached across her and pushed the button. The lid opened to reveal one white envelope inside. Beth bent over, almost strangling herself on the seatbelt; she had forgotten to loosen the tension. Her name and address were typed on the outside, but there was no stamp, no postmark. Hand delivered? Her hand trembled as she slit the envelope open. The message inside made her stomach churn even more.

“Beth? Beth, what is it?” She thrust the letter at him, the message embedded on her brain; there was no need for her to read it again. There were few words, but they stood out starkly against the white paper. Words that looked like they’d been written in dried blood. Words that caused her to shiver and shake, as if she was coming down with the ‘flu.

I know where you live.

Josh was quiet for a long time after he’d read the note. Beth saw him put the letter in the breast pocket of his shirt before he started the car again. The road he took was not the one to Holly Lodge, but it was one they’d been on before.

“So what are you saying, Josh? That because I have long hair I’m going to be the killer’s next victim?”

“I don’t know, Beth, but we should at least let the police see that note.”

How well do you know your characters?

Guest Post by Annette Gisby

Are your characters coming across as one or two dimensional? How can you make them more interesting? Try this fun quiz and see how well you know your characters!

1) What does your character prefer?
a) A long soak in the tub filled with bubble bath and bath oils
b) A quick invigorating shower, they haven’t time for baths.
c) A wash in a basin of water, they have no plumbing in their house.
d) Wash? What’s that?

5) What sort of family do they have?
a) Mum, Dad, brothers and sisters.
b) Orphaned at a young age, only child.
c) Parents are divorced, custody struggle.
d) They are an alien/supernatural creature and have no concept of family.

6) What would be a great date for your character?
a) A meal in a fancy restaurant followed by the ballet.
b) A walk in the woods with a picnic.
c) Sailing and then relaxing on a deserted beach.
d) Fast food restaurant and then bowling.

7) What would they do if they found money in the street?
a) Hand it in to the nearest police station.
b) Take it home, but feel guilty and then give it to the police.
c) Take it home and spend it on themselves, no guilt.
d) Take it home and spend it on a good cause.

8) What would they dress as on Halloween?
a) A prince/Princess
b) A witch or wizard
c) Character from a tv show
d) Character from a book.

9) What’s their favourite sound?
a) Birds in the morning.
b) Waves crashing against rocks.
c) Whale songs.
d) The sound of money as it jangles in their pocket.

10) What would be their ideal holiday?
a) Skiing in the Swiss Alps.
b) A murder-mystery break
c) Travelling on the Orient Express to Venice
d) Staying in a haunted castle where they can dress up in costume.

Hope it was fun!

About the author:

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, moving to London when she was seventeen. She writes in multiple genres and styles, anything from romance to thriller or erotica to horror, even both at the same time.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre and travelling the world despite getting travel sick on most forms of transport., even a bicycle. Sometimes you might find her playing Dragon Quest or The Sims computer games and watching Japanese Anime. She lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls, cuddly toys and enough books to fill a library. It’s diminishing gradually since the advent of ebooks, but still has a long way to go.

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